This weekend...know your trees

I've been on a bit of a woodland mission this week.

So I though I might as well finish the week off as I started it: with trees.

This is my quick guide to five easy to identify trees.

1. Oak

Where you live in the country will depend on whether you see sessile or pedunculate oaks. However, common to both is the shape of the leaves: long and rounded lobes that are glossy green on top.

2. Ash

The oval leaves of an ash aren't in themselves that distinctive, it's the way they grow that is - arranged in pairs along a branch with an odd one at the end.

3. Silver birch

The beautifully gnarled and fissured silver bark of a silver birch is the easiest way to identify this tree. 

4. Horse chestnut

Probably better identified in winter when horse chestnuts produce their seeds - conkers. But in spring it produces 'showy' creamy-white flower clusters that stand upright in spikes. It also makes a tree to have a picnic under!  

5. Beech

Beech is another tree best identified by its leaves. The large and smooth dark green leaves grow along a 'zig-zag' branch.

What have you seen?

The number of pests and diseases attacking trees in the UK has increased in the last few years. Be part of the OPAL tree health survey and help scientists build up a picture of the health of our trees.